Ken Pillonel has built a reputation for doing the kinds of iPhone mods Apple never would. In recent years, the engineer has converted older iPhones to USB-C, added a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and even sold clever protective cases that effectively bring USB-C connectivity to certain iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models.
Now he’s flipped that idea on its head in a project that’s clearly meant to be more playful than practical: a protective case designed to give a modern iPhone 17 Pro a Lightning port again.
While it’s not a product he plans to sell, the concept is still fascinating because it demonstrates something many people might not expect—adding Apple’s older proprietary charging connector back to a current iPhone can be done with relatively modest effort. Instead of opening the phone and performing a permanent internal modification, the solution relies on a custom 3D-printed case paired with a USB-C to Lightning adapter that has been modified to take up as little space as possible. The result is a case that only adds a few millimeters to the bottom of the iPhone while creating the look and feel of a built-in Lightning port.
In terms of functionality, the Lightning port on the case can charge the iPhone 17 Pro. Pillonel hasn’t confirmed whether his specific build supports data transfer or accessory connections. However, Apple’s own USB-C to Lightning adapter is capable of data transfer and can connect certain accessories like headphones, with one major limitation: Lightning is typically restricted to USB 2.0 speeds, topping out at 480 Mbit/s.
For anyone who’s followed the long-running USB-C versus Lightning debate, this April 1 project lands as a fun bit of tech irony—proof that with a little creativity, you can bring back an “outdated” port on a brand-new iPhone, even if it’s mostly for laughs. At the same time, it highlights how adaptable modern USB-C iPhones can be when paired with the right accessories, adapters, and a bit of engineering ingenuity.
